DigiD: how to get it and what it unlocks
Short answer: DigiD is your login for Dutch government websites. You can apply once you have a BSN and a registered address with your gemeente. You apply online at digid.nl; an activation code arrives by post within 5 working days.
What is DigiD?
DigiD (Digitale Identiteit) is a username, password and app you use to log in to the tax office, benefits, your health insurer, your GP's patient portal, MijnOverheid and many municipal services. It proves that you are you online.
It is personal. You never share it, and nobody, including an employer, landlord or relocation agent, should log in for you.
The order matters
Arrive → Register at gemeente (BRP) → BSN → DigiD → Taxes, benefits, insurance portals
Without a BSN you cannot apply. Without DigiD many later steps, like applying for a healthcare allowance or checking your tax letters online, are slow or impossible. See how to get a BSN.
How to apply
- Check you have: a BSN, a registered address in the BRP and a mobile phone.
- Apply at digid.nl (Apply for DigiD). Choose a username and password.
- Wait for the activation letter. It goes to your registered address, normally within 5 working days. Make sure your name is on the letterbox.
- Activate with the code from the letter. Do it soon after it arrives; the code does not stay valid forever.
- Install the DigiD app and link it. Many services now require the app or SMS check, not just a password.
What DigiD unlocks
| Service | What you do with it |
|---|---|
| Belastingdienst (tax office) | Tax return, provisional assessments, allowances (toeslagen) |
| MijnOverheid | Your government message box (Berichtenbox) for official letters |
| Health insurer and GP portals | Claims, policy details, appointments |
| Gemeente | Moving house, parking permits, municipal taxes |
| DUO, UWV, SVB | Study finance, unemployment, child benefit |
Common mistakes
- Applying before your address is registered. The letter goes to your BRP address; no address, no code.
- No name on the letterbox. Dutch post may not deliver a letter it cannot match to a name.
- Letting the code expire. If it does, apply again.
- Ignoring the Berichtenbox. Once you use MijnOverheid, some organisations send letters there instead of by post. Turn on email alerts.
Your checklist
I arrive in the next 30 days
- Plan your gemeente appointment first; DigiD comes after the BSN
I am already here
- BSN received? Apply for DigiD today
- Put your name on the letterbox
- After activation: install the DigiD app and turn on MijnOverheid email alerts
I have a child
- Children can get their own DigiD too (apply after their BSN arrives); for young children, parents usually handle services until they are older
Get this as your personal plan
Stapje shows where DigiD sits in your plan and what you can do once it is active. Received a Dutch letter you do not understand? Photograph it and see what it means and by when. No account needed.
Get Stapje on the App StoreFAQ
How long does DigiD take?
The activation letter normally arrives within 5 working days after you apply.
Can I get DigiD without a BSN?
No. You need a BSN and a registered address.
I live abroad but have a BSN. Can I get DigiD?
Yes. There is a separate application route for people abroad. You collect the activation code at a service desk. See netherlandsworldwide.nl.
Is DigiD the same as a bank login?
No. DigiD is only for government and semi-public services (tax, benefits, health). Your bank has its own login.
Official sources
Last checked 6 October 2026. digid.nl is the official source. Stapje is not a government service and never asks for your DigiD login.